Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10452, Godfrey Elam, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Elam, Godfrey
S. 10452
carded
CONTENTS

Kentucky
6869
Godfrey Clapp
of Cumberland in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Chestain of the Reg t commanded by Col. Gooden in the Virginia line for
1. Year
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 40. Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8. day of March 1833. and sent to Hon. N. Gaither, Columbia, Ky.
Arrears to the 4th of March /33. — 80. 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833. 20. 00
Deed Jan. 19, 1835. 100. 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Francis T. Fancioni Clerk. Book (2) Vol. 9 Page 37
Deed Jan. 19, 1835 Rev. A. B.

Declaration in Order to Obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Kentucky County of Cumberland, Set 1)
No 6686. On this 17 th day of August in the year of Our Lord 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before us John M Emerson Vincent Taylor and Alfred Ring
Comprising the County Court for Cumberland County now sitting: Godfrey Elam a Resident of the County and State aforesaid
Aged about Seventy years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following statement or declaration in Order to Obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832.
That he entered the Service under the following Officers and served as herein stated. That he served part of his time under Col o Robert Goods and his Captain was by the name of Henry Cheatham but states that from his youth inexperience and the great lapse of time he is unable to name any other Officers or the precise date at which he entered or left the Service. He never was in an actual engagement, he resided in the State of Virginia and County of Chesterfield

When he entered the Service, he states that he was drafted . he states that he never left the State of Virginia, and that in the fulfilments of orders he was marched to the lower parts of Virginia and remained some time about York Town, & Williamsburg but that he was principally engaged in about Petersburg. Whilst Col. Tarleton was in that part of Virginia with his troops of Horse That he was Eight miles from Petersburg at War-bottom Church when our men had to retreat from that place at the time that Town was burned in part, in the Spring of 1781 — and he states that he has no discharge or other Documentary evidence of his Service. In the course of his tour he was at Collins Point, Smithfield Blackey's Mills, and many other places. On the South Side of James River he was also in Dinwiddie and Gloucester County's he states that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can certify to his Service, he states that he was in Service at least twelve months during the War but will not say more. he hereby Relinquishes every Claim or Annuity what ever except the Presents, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State —
He states that he is a now a citizen of Cumberland county state of Ky whence he removed from Chesterfield. Godfrey Elam

Cumberland County Ky.
We Vachel Dillingham a clergyman of Cumberland County and James Baker Obadiah Baker & Joseph Alexander Residents of said County hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Godfrey Elam who has signed the above Declaration. That we believe him to be about 70 years of age. That he is represented & believed in the Neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed this day and year above mentioned
Vachel Dillingham
James Baker Sen Obadiah Baker
Joseph Baker
County of Cumberland State of Kentucky To wit — And the Court state their opinion that from the investigation of the matter and after hearing the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department. That the said Applicant is of the age he mentions that he was a soldier of the Revolution and performed the services he mentioned in his Declaration — And that Vachel Dillingham is a resident clergyman of this county and that the gentlemen above named residents of this county are credible persons and their statements entitled to belief
Given under our

hands this 13 th August 1832
A King J.P. Leb
J. M. Emerson J.P. Leb
W. Taylor J.P. Leb
Kentucky Cumberland county set
I Milton King Clerk of the County Court for said County do hereby certify that J. M. Emerson A. King & W. Taylor Esqrs whose names are subscribed to the above certificate are now and were at the date thereof justices of the peace in said County duly commissioned & qualified that their attestation is in due form of law and their official acts are entitled to credit.
Given under my hand & the seal of my office in the town of Rocksville this 15 th August 1832
M. King
G. Elam
3 Declar
Pension
6.686
Aug 31

State of Kentucky Cumberland County. Set
On the 14 th day of January 1833. personally appeared in Open Court before the Justices of the Cumberland County Court now sitting. Godfrey Elam of the County and State aforesaid. Aged twenty years (as near as he can ascertain). Who being first duly Sworn. According to Law. Makes the following statements. by way of Amendment to his Original Declaration Subscribed and sworn to by him at the August Term of 1832. of said Court in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed the 7 th June 1832.
Question by the Court
Where and in what year were you born?
Answer by the Declarant
I was born in Charlotte County and State of Virginia but the precise year I know not.
Question by the Court
Have you any means of your age and if so where is it
Answer by the Declarant
I have none. nor do I know of any written evidence whereby I can prove my age
Question by the Court
Did you ever receive a Discharge from the Service. and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Answer by the Declarant
I never received any written Discharge
State the Names of Persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your

services as a soldier of the Revolution
Answer by the Debutant
James Baker William Baker Benjamin Brumhall William Smith. Joseph Alexander & Obadiah Baker & Lewis Ellison
State the period or periods of the War when you served
Answer by the Debutant
From the great lapse of time and my having no Education whereby I could read any any such work I am unable to say precisely, but I think from the best of my recollection that it was in the year of 1779 -
State the Number and length of the different Terms you served and the Grades in which you served
Answer by the Debutant
I served during the whole War in the different Regiments and in the different Grades. I served as a Private, Corporal, Sergeant, and Captain during the War.
That by reason of Old Age and the consequent loss of memory I cannot recollect positively as to the precise length of my service, but according to the best of my recollection. I served not less than six times of two months each (during the War) as a private soldier and for such service I claim a pension
Godfrey Elard

State of Kentucky Cumberland County sit
We John M. Emerson, Joel Quigley, & Ruben Alexander the Trustees of the peace concerning the County Court of Cumberland now in Session do certify that the foregoing Affidavits of Godfrey Elam by way of Amendment & supplementary to his Original Decla- -ration Subscribed and sworn to at a previous term of this Court for the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the Acts of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 was this day Subscribed and sworn to in Open Court before us and that the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department were put by said Court and the answers made by him not contained in his Original Declaration are set forth and embodied in the foregoing amend- -ment Given under our hands this 14 th day of January 1833 —
J. M. Emerson J.P.B.C. Joel Quigley J.P.B.C. Ruben Alexander J.P.B.C.

State of up Kentucky Cumberland County set I Milton King Clerk of the County Court of the County aforesaid Do hereby certify that John N Emerson Joel Ausley and Reuben Alexander Esqrs whose signatures are to the foregoing Certificate are and were at the time of executing the same Acting Justices of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid duly & legally Commissioned and qualified and that I am well acquainted with their handwriting and know their signatures to the foregoing Certificate and
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my Seal of Office this 16 th day of January 1855 -
Milton King

January 17, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS am
Godfrey Elam, S. 16452
Honorable L. T. Marshall House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Marshall:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to Godfrey Elam, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 10452, based upon the military service of Godfrey Elam.
He was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The date of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Chesterfield County, he enlisted about 1779, served six tours of two months each, being in service as late as the spring of 1781 and serving as private with the Virginia troops, a part of the time in Captain Henry Cheatham's company in Colonel Robert Goode's regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 12, 1832, at which time he was about seventy years of age and was living in Cumberland County, Kentucky.
Godfrey Elam died January 19, 1835.
The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Feb. 9, 1921
In reply to your request of _____ received for a statement of the military history of Godfrey Elam a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. 810452
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1779 12 mos at P.O. Various times Col. Henry Cheatham Robt. Goode Va.                                     
Battles engaged in, None stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Chesterfield Co., Va.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 12, 1832. Cl. ad
Residence at date of application, Cumberland Co., Ky.
Age at date of application, about 70 yrs. born in Chesterfield Co. Va.
Remarks: No fam. data
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Congressional Record House of Representatives January 13, 1936
Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
88143

L. T. MARSHALL 7TH DIST. OHIO
89143 No 801 1-13-36
COMMITTEES: AGRICULTURE EDUCATION MINES AND MINING
Congress of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
No O. War Pen 1/14/36 Steele
9 January 1936.
m-c m-o m-o 1/11
Mr. E. L. Bailey, Director, Widows and Dependents Claims, Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.
My dear Mr. Bailey:
I received a request for some information which it would be greatly appreciated if you could furnish me.
It seems that Godfrey Elam applied for a pension a few years prior to 1840. At that time he was a resident of Cumberland (?) County, Kentucky.
What I would like to know is whether his application shows the names of any children. If so, I would appreciate your giving me the names and addresses of these children.
Godfrey Elam 108
I am,
Yours very truly,
L. T. Marshall
1095 L. T. MARSHALL.
LTM/K
Mrs. Finch says this is her case.

10452 INVALID.
Revised
File No. 10,452
Godfrey Elam Phw. Rev. War.
Act: June 1 st 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 69
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1917 Jan. 18. Aud. Ent. Dept. furnished data to enable him to ascertain date of last payment etc. and 1921 Feb. 9 Ht. to Mr. E. Gault. En settler in S. 10452 Godfrey Elam. En 1926 Jan. 17. Hist. to Hon. J. P. Marshall, Sec.

Grapy Elam N o 6686
admitted
1 year
forward

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Wolsey Elam which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? Yes No - State the length of the different terms VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yy XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Testimonial evidence XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? yy Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? yy XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yy XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 6, 7 not answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For _____ year _____ months and _____ days. I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.